An artful autumn board with cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and crackers arranged to evoke a wheat field and turkey.
# Needed Ingredients:
→ Cheeses
01 - 5.3 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz Swiss cheese, sliced
03 - 5.3 oz creamy brie, sliced or in wedges
04 - 3.5 oz gouda, cubed
→ Cured Meats
05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto
06 - 3.5 oz salami, sliced
07 - 3.5 oz smoked turkey breast, sliced
→ Crackers & Bread
08 - 5.3 oz whole wheat crackers
09 - 5.3 oz multigrain crackers
10 - 1 small baguette, sliced
→ Fresh Fruits
11 - 1 small bunch green grapes
12 - 1 small bunch red grapes
13 - 1 pear, sliced
14 - 1 apple, sliced
15 - 0.5 cup dried apricots
16 - 0.33 cup dried cranberries
→ Nuts & Garnishes
17 - 0.5 cup roasted almonds
18 - 0.5 cup shelled pistachios
19 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
20 - 0.33 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
→ For Decoration
21 - 1 mini pumpkin or gourd (turkey body)
22 - Pretzel sticks (wheat stalks and turkey feathers)
23 - 2 black olives (turkey eyes)
24 - 1 small piece red bell pepper (wattle)
25 - 1 small triangle yellow cheese (beak)
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Place the mini pumpkin or gourd at the bottom center of a large wooden board to represent the turkey’s body.
02 - Arrange sliced meats fan-like above the pumpkin to mimic the turkey’s tail feathers, alternating colors and textures for vibrancy.
03 - Arrange assorted cheeses in arcs radiating outward from the turkey body to resemble wheat field rows.
04 - Arrange whole wheat and multigrain crackers along with baguette slices in lines or curves to evoke wheat stalks.
05 - Distribute clusters of green and red grapes, apple and pear slices, and dried apricots and cranberries artfully around cheeses and meats.
06 - Fill remaining gaps with almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and fresh rosemary sprigs for texture and color.
07 - Use pretzel sticks to craft wheat stalk effects along the edges and interspersed among cheese and fruit.
08 - Attach black olives (eyes), a small piece of red bell pepper (wattle), and yellow cheese triangle (beak) onto the pumpkin or gourd using toothpicks as needed.
09 - Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
